Auto Gossip

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34129, 15 April 1976, Page 10

Auto Gossip

(By

A. J. Petre)

Leyland, the corporation which now encompasses most of the firms which have contributed to Britain’s motoring history, has announced plans to restore and display its extensive collection of historic vehicles. The move is not purely, philanthropic the public] will pay to see the cars.] and the corporation intends! that the display will be fully self-supporting. Added to that, the company's apprentices will get some, useful training by restoring! and maintaining some of] the cars. It is good to see yet an-: other company taking an interest in its motoring history: in the past hundreds of priceless old vehicles would have been lost for ever had it not been for the good work of a few companies and many private collectors. In spite of] them work, hundreds of ve-j hicies have been lost. Here in New Zealand, the activities of the Vint-: age Car Club and private museums and collections have led to many fascinat-i mg vehicles being restored! tnd preserved, and this is] omething for which alii lose with an interest in] le past, motoring or not,! loidd be grateful. Leyland’s plans are inter-

ning: not only will the chicles be put on display -ut they will also be hired >ut for processions, advertising campaigns, and similar activities. At present there are about 130 vehicles in the Leyland collect ijn, and they come from the small collections started by the individual companies which now make up the corporation. Some of the vehicles had been cared for, it was found a few months ago. But others had been “let go,’’ and preservation depended on quick action. Now the corporation has formed a separate company to take over the care and display of the s3m collection, which ranges from an 1896 Wolseley to the last of the E-type Jaguars.

There are, of course, several very famous vintage and veteran car collections in Britain, plus a very active vintage car club. In years past, some Europeans looked on the preservation of old cars as a peculiar British eccentricity; but now, I think, it is generally recognised that preserving a rare old car! may have as much in its! favour as preserving a rare! old building.